Fun Mover vs. Van Conversion?

[TwistNShout]

We just sold our Fun Runner (toybox trailer) this weekend and are going to purchase a new camp vehicle this week.

My husband already has a 31' Fun Mover with the Sport Package all picked out and is ready to buy it.

My concern is that if he gets hurt, I'm not sure I would be real comfortable driving that beast. :yikes:

Does anybody know if they make something smaller than the Fun Mover with some of the amenities such as a kitchen, bathroom, a/c, etc., in something like the size of a van where the couches would fold up like the toybox trailers to haul your motorcycles inside, instead of having to haul a trailer? :think:

Thanks in advance!

 

[TwistNShout]

Bump :clue:

 

[High Lord Gomer]

We have a 31ft and it is very similar to driving a full-size van on the highway. It is more work to park, back, and maneuver in tight places, but less so than a big trailer.

You should also try it during the test drive.

 

[TwistNShout]

HLG, just wanted to send a great big “THANK YOU” for the valuable info. I really appreciate it b/c I am no longer worried about if I ever have to drive it…..in fact, I am even excited to give ‘er a try now!

Thanks again for the helpful info! :cool:

 

[High Lord Gomer]

I'm glad to help! The only strange thing to get used to is that the back end swings *way* out when turning hard. I clipped a gas pump once with the left rear bumper when turning right out of the station.

I would definitely suggest still doing the test drive yourself. Mine handled incredibly well from 20K to 55K, but just recently started feeling more "nervous" and "wandering" more going down the road. Another friend says his 30ft RV is an absolute pain to drive at highway speeds because it wanders. They all appear to handle differently (I believe it is wear and tear and/or setup/adjustment), so you need to test drive the one you are looking at.

Oh, and the 31ft Funmover *needs* the best possible tires made for the size they run. Mine is at (or beyond) the weight limit for the tires on the rear axle. After a few blowouts and searching the RV sites, I ended up with: http://www.michelinrvtires.com/michelinrvtires/productguide/newprod/TireSpecs.jsp?tread=XPS+RIB

BTW, I get 6 mpg with mine (at 80). Supposedly will get as much as 9 if driven slowly.

The interior is perfect for up to 4 people. 2 above the cab, one on the couch and one on the kitchen table/bed. Any more than that and you have to put 3 up front of unload the bikes and put a cot in the back.

 

[TwistNShout]

Well, we picked up the new Funmover today. When we went for our walk-through with the sales person, he showed us how to turn the generator on when dry camping to turn on the air co. and other appliances. It worked fine then, but now when we turn the generator on, nothing is getting powered by it. The fuses and breakers all look okay, and yes it was plugged in to the generator plug/outlet and we don’t know what else to look for. When we plug it into the house electric everything works fine??? :think:

If anybody has any ideas as to why the generator is not powering the a/c, etc., we would greatly appreciate any input.

We've got to take it back to the service dept. to have the rear benches put in the cargo area anyhow, but if we can figure the generator thing out maybe it won't be in their service dept. too long. :rotfl:

 

[BSWIFT]

Have you checked the breaker on the generator?

 

[TwistNShout]

Have you checked the breaker on the generator?

Will go do that right now, thanks!!!!

 

[TwistNShout]

Have you checked the breaker on the generator?

OMG, do we ever feel toooopid now! :rotfl: That fixed the ol' generator problem.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU......by the way, did I say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!! :worship:

DRN folks ROCK! :yeehaw: :yeehaw:

 

[gasgasman]

.........now you have to figure out what tripped the circuit breaker on the generator.

Always be sure that EVERY thing is turned off before firing up the generator and before shutting it off.

 

[TwistNShout]

.........now you have to figure out what tripped the circuit breaker on the generator.

Always be sure that EVERY thing is turned off before firing up the generator and before shutting it off.

Good point! Don't know what tripped it? Will definitely try to figure that one out too. Thanks much! :cool:

 

[TwistNShout]

I would definitely suggest still doing the test drive yourself. Mine handled incredibly well from 20K to 55K, but just recently started feeling more "nervous" and "wandering" more going down the road. Another friend says his 30ft RV is an absolute pain to drive at highway speeds because it wanders. They all appear to handle differently (I believe it is wear and tear and/or setup/adjustment), so you need to test drive the one you are looking at.

Oh, and the 31ft Funmover *needs* the best possible tires made for the size they run. Mine is at (or beyond) the weight limit for the tires on the rear axle. After a few blowouts and searching the RV sites, I ended up with: http://www.michelinrvtires.com/michelinrvtires/productguide/newprod/TireSpecs.jsp?tread=XPS+RIBThe interior is perfect for up to 4 people.

HLG, Thanks for the link & info. on the inferior tires. You were right, 2680 lbs per tire is NOT acceptable. We are going to do the BEST search we know how to find out if somebody makes 19.5" rims that will replace our 16” rims (without adapters) so we can get a higher weight-rated tire to handle the weight load, without the worries of blowouts. If not, we will buy the best 16” tires (if that is all that is available) and go back to the link you referred us to.

She is a HEAVY pig, especially once WE load her….
Just to backtrack a little…not too much, Thom measured the driveway to figure out the BIGGEST one he could get….a MALE-THANG, I guess. Anywhooo, once parked in the driveway, we have a FULL one inch to spare, obviously, a two-person park job. But, OH YEAH, it fits. :laugh:

I did get the opportunity to test drive it as you suggested and it was easy to drive, even if kids on skateboards were passing me……but that’s okay, it felt comfortable to me, next time I’ll get off the sidewalk and try the freeway, j/k.

As far as sleeping capacity, it is STILL just the two of us so no worries there.

Thanks again for all your helpful input. :worship:

 

[BSWIFT]

:) :cool:

 

[TwistNShout]

.........now you have to figure out what tripped the circuit breaker on the generator.

Always be sure that EVERY thing is turned off before firing up the generator and before shutting it off.

The salesman :moon: at the RV place where we bought it from left the refrigerator on when he took us for our walk-through.

 

[gasgasman]

I have to agree with High Lord Gomer on the Michelin XPs+.

I had 4 blow outs with the Fireston Steeltex radials. Let me tell you, it ain't fun.
The last straw was, when the tire blew out and ripped the black water tank in half.
The next day I went out and bought the XPS+. The cost me $180 each-well worth it!
Have had them on now for over 2 years with 0 problems.

Make sure your RV has a 20 ton bottle jack-RV manufacturers quite putting spares and jacks in their vehicles. They don't want an RV falling off the jack and killing someone.

I also had chrome hub caps- they look cool. But they kept flying off- I saw one fly off and crossed the freeway behind me. Did not hit anything.
I got a set of Alcoas from www.southwestwheel.com cheaper than what I was spending on hub caps.

 

[TwistNShout]

I have to agree with High Lord Gomer on the Michelin XPs+.

I had 4 blow outs with the Fireston Steeltex radials. Let me tell you, it ain't fun.
The last straw was, when the tire blew out and ripped the black water tank in half.
The next day I went out and bought the XPS+. They cost me $180 each-well worth it!
Have had them on now for over 2 years with 0 problems.

Make sure your RV has a 20-ton bottle jack-RV manufacturers quit putting spares and jacks in their vehicles.

Thanks for reiterating the tire issue. Spent a ½ hour on the phone with a tire guy today. He too recommended either the Michelin XPs+ or the Goodyears, but since you haven’t had any problems with the Michelins, that is what we are going to go with too. What size did you buy?

Thanks also for the info. on the 20-ton bottle jack and spare b/c you are right, we checked & there isn’t either. :ohmy:

 

[NVR FNSH]

check www.ricksontruck.com for 19.5" wheels & tires.

Brian

 

[TwistNShout]

Hmmmmm, another possibility! Thank you. :cool:

 

[High Lord Gomer]

I got a 20 ton pnuematic/hydraulic jack from Northern.

I'm not sure if it's just mine, but every time I start the generator I have to go reset the Ground Fault button in the bathroom.

What's under your couch? Mine already had another 100 gallon water tank installed there when I bought it.

I know it's tempting, but keep that thing under 80 mph and you probably won't have blowout problems. My "lesser" Michelins last 2 years/30K miles with *serious* abuse.

BTW, when jacking up the rear, I have found it best to put the jack under the very front of the leaf spring and then put a 12 ton jack stand just behind it (still on the leaf spring). I let the jack down to where there is weight on both before I take the tire(s) off.

Another suggestions is to get the steel braided extensions for the valve stems on the rear so you can easily check the air pressure before each drive. Since these tires are *at* the limit, the pressure is critical. Mine measure 80-83 lbs when "cold" then get almost to 100 lbs when hot.

When driving, the most common error is to not remember how wide that long back end will swing when you turn sharp. Even if the tires made it past something, the back end still might swing wide and hit it.

 

[TwistNShout]

HLG, THANKS again for much needed info.!
Currently there is nothing under our couch. Thom is picking up an extra 40-gallon water tank early next week that he is going to install under the couch. Do you have a separate fill for your extra water tank or are they linked together? You are VERY lucky that yours came with it.

We bought the Michelin 215/85R16 XPS Rib tires and are getting them put on Monday. We checked into 19 ½ ” wheels but they told us that that would only add more weight. We also got the extended copper valve stem kit from The Tire Man & will have them installed with the new tires.

We haven’t checked if when we start the generator whether or not we will have to reset the Ground Fault button in the bathroom, but I will let you know when we do.

The wide long back end must swing out more than I thought b/c when I was turning the corner in our tract the other day, a car coming from the opposite direction completely stopped. I thought I had PLENTY of clearance…..still do, but I will be extra watchful about that.

Thanks again, we really appreciate the help!

 

[TwistNShout]

High Lord Gomer:

We finally got a chance to check out if we would have to reset the Ground Fault button in the bathroom after turning on the generator, and we don’t.

We started the generator and checked all plugs & everything is A-okay! I checked every outlet from the front of the rig to the rear, and they all worked fine without having to reset the Ground Fault button.

Maybe once after we get it broke in we may have to, but even if so, that’s NO biggie!

Thanks again for all your helpful info. :cool: